Machine for wrapping plastic material, especially gelatinous explosives



May 3, 1966 F. NIEPMANN ETAL 3,248,847

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1964 May 3, 1966 F. NIEPMANN ETAL 3,248,847

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES Filed June 5, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 .INVEN'TORS FRITZ NIE PMANN OTTO N IEPM ANN FIG -4 BY y 1966 F. NIEPMANN ETAL 3,

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES Filed June 5, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-7 INVENTORS FRITZ NIEPMANN BY OTTO NIEPM ANN 3, 1966 F. NIEPMANN ETAL 3,248,847

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GELAIINOUS EXPLOSIVES Filed June 5, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 s dlq |2| I22 F 5 INVENTORS FRITZ NIEPMANN BY OTTO NIEPMANN May 3, 1966 F. NIEPMANN ETAL 3,243,847

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES Filed June 5, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS FRITZ NIEPMANN BY OTTO NIEPMANN FIG-I7 MACHINE FOR WRAP G Filed June 5, 1964 GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES gal IEPMANN ETAL 3,248,847 PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS IT Z N IE PMANN BY TO N I EPMANN F. NIEPMANN ETAL MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY May 3, 1966 GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 5, 1964 INVENTORS FRITZ N IE PMANN OTTO NIE P MA N N United States Patent O 3,248,847 MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MATERIAL,

ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVES Fritz Niepmann and Otto Niepmann, both of Gevelsberg,

Germany, assignors to Fr. Niepmann & Co., Gevelsberg, Germany Filed June 3, 1964, Ser. No. 372,218 Claims priority, application Italy, Mar. 3, 1961, 38,972/61, Patent 600,913 15 Claims. (Cl. 53-123) This application is a continuation-in-part of our application, Serial No. 176,385, filed February 28, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a machine for wrappinglplastic material, especially gelatinous explosive materia For purposes of wrapping or packing plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive materials, machines have become known according to which a certain volume is separated from a rolled fleece in the form of a block and, together with one end of the wrapping paper, is conveyed to the cell of a multicelled revolving head. In the cell at the filling station of the revolving head, the material is compressed and, by winding mandrels, is turned for Wrapping the wrapping paper. With machines of this type it has been ascertained that, if the paper has a straight cut, the overlapping portion prevailing after the winding operation easily bulges in the center of the cartridge whereby the cartridge loses its necessary strength or shape.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a machine which will overcome the above mentioned drawback.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of the type set forth in the preceding paragraph, which will bring about that, following the winding operation, the paper will better follow the round contour of the cartridge.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the machine according to the present invention, partly in section.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view showing the machine preparatory to cutting off a piece of material and advancing it into a cell of the indexing head.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view indicated by line 3-3 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but shows the cutting knife advanced downwardly and cutting off a piece of material that is to be introduced into the cell of the indexing head that is in the receiving station.

FIGURE 5 is a view like FIGURE 4 but shows the cut off piece of material lifted and in position in front of the cell which is to receive it.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing the pusher member that pushes the material into the cell in the receiving station.

FIGURE 7 is a view showing the cut made in the Wrapping paper in which the material is wrapped after it is placed in the cell of the indexing head.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view showing the material pushed into the cell of the machine that is in the receiving station.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view, indicated by line 99 on FIGURE 15, showing how the wrapping paper that is caught behind the material placed in the cell in the receiving station has the end thereof tucked into the material while the material is still in the receiving station.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 7 but shows how the wrapping paper separates from the 3,248,847 Patented May 3, 1966 supply thereof when the material is pushed into the cell in the receiving station.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction of the cut off knife and mechanism associated therewith.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction of the cut off knife that cuts off the supply of wrapping paper.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view showing at somewhat larger scale and in more detail the indexing head of the machine and the controlling cams therefor in one operative position.

FIGURE 14 is a view like FIGURE 13, but shows the cams in another operative position.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view indicated by line 15--15 on FIGURE 8 and showing the material being introduced into the loading cell while a finished cartridge is being discharged from the cell in the loading station.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view indicated by line 1616 on FIGURE 1 showing the wrapping station, wherein the material and paper are wrapped together.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view on line 17-17 on FIGURE 1 showing the station wherein the ends of the paper are tucked in against the wrapped material.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary view showing the construction of the reciprocating pocket that guides the ends of the wrapping paper from the cut off station downwardly past the material receiving station of the indexing head; and

FIGURE 19 is a schematic view showing the drive mechanism for the machine including the cams that operate the several instrumentalities of the machine and coordinate the operation thereof.

The present invention, in part, is characterized in that the paper cut is V-shaped at the leading end and that the tip of said paper cut at the filing station is by means of an oscillating folding or trucking lever, pressed against the pre-shaped cartridge. In this way a certain stiffening or strengthening of the cartridge in longitudinal direction thereof is obtained. Moreover, the folding and pressing of the pointed paper tip makes possible a proper envelopmg. I

In order to be able to feed said V-shaped cut off paper out in a proper manner to the filling station, there is provided a pocket being oscillatable between the cutting off device and the revolving head. In order, particularly in the neighborhood of the end faces, to obtain a proper folding of the paper tip, mandrels are arranged adjacent the cell in the filling station, which mandrels move into the overlapping ends of the paper cover and are provided with recesses for receiving the ends of a folding lever. These mandrels have the further advantage that they hold fast the material in the cell when the punch is being withdrawn.

These additional devices, namely, the oscillating fold ing lever and the oscillating pocket for the paper out, require a clearance space between the cutting off device and the revolving head. In order to obtain this space, the cutting off knife, together with the guiding trough for the cut off block of the material being wrapped, is adapted to be moved back and forth in front of the filling station so that the cutting off device may be retracted during the advance of the paper out and during the operation of the folding lever. This movement of the cutting ofi device has the advantage that the paper cut may be clamped fast between the marginal portion of the guiding trough and the opened pressing jaw of the cell being filled.

In order not to overload the filling station with further devices, a separate winding or wrapping station is provided into which the newly filled cell is moved by an indexing movement of the revolving head. At this a) wrapping station there are provided tiltable rubber roller means adapted to rest upon the winding mandrels moved into the protruding ends of the paper sleeve, said rubber roller means assuring a proper winding or wrapping of the material while maintaining the wound up unit cylindrical and free of wrinkles or bulges.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the machine according to the present invention comprises a frame having side members 1. In one end of the frame is an indexing head 2 having a plurality of cells 3 in which the material is wrapped.

Mounted between the side members 1 of the frame are spaced rollers 4 about which there passes a conveyor belt 5. Forming roller means 6 are provided in association with conveyor belt for forming material 7 into fleece 8 of uniform thickness. Conveyor belt 5 is driven by driving one roller 4 through drive means 9 which leads to a main drive motor 10.

At the end adjacent indexing head 2 there is a knife blade 11 pivoted at 12 to the upper ends of a pair of spaced arms 13 which is pivoted at spaced points to the ends of substantially parallel substantially equal length levers 14 and 15. Levers 14 and 15 are, in turn, pivoted to control plate means 16 which is pivotally supported on the upper ends of substantially parallel substantially equal length levers 17 and 18 which are pivotally supported in the frame of the machine.

Lever 14 has an end portion projecting beyond its pivotal connection with control plates 16 and connected by link 19 with one end of an actuating lever 20 which has roller means '21 on the opposite end bearing on a control cam 22 mounted on shaft 23 that is also driven by main motor 10. v

Lever 17 also has an end extending beyond its pivotal connection with the machine frame that is connected by link 24 with lever 25 pivotally supported in the frame and having at its other end a roller 26 bearing on a cam 27 also mounted on shaft 23. It will be evident that actuation of levers 17 and 14 will cause body movement in the horizontal direction of control plate 16 and vertical movement of knife 11 relative to the control plate.

Knife 11 has associated therewith at least one arm 28 connected by link 29 with the upper end of a lever 30 pivoted in the frame and connected by a link 31 with a lever 3-2 which carries a roller 33 engaging still another cam 34 on shaft 23.

' Shaft 23 carries a still further cam 35 cooperating with roller 36 on a lever 37 pivoted in the frame and connected by link 38 with a lever 39 which is connected at its upper end with a rod 40 terminating at its right end in a pusher head 41. Rod 40 may be guided on guide blocks 42 carried in the frame.

Knife 11 has fixed thereto, as by arms 43, a rod or pin 44 that engages the extreme end of the fleece when it is cut by the knife. This pin or rod also holds the fleece in position when it is tilted upwardly to discharge position by tilting of the knife about its pivotal support 12.

I Immediately in front of the knife, and carried by arms 13, is a curved guide member 45 which guides the fleece as knife 11 is tipped up to discharge position.

Turning now to the indexing head, this member carries six of the cells 3 in uniformly spaced relation and includes a center shaft 46 on which is mounted 21 Geneva wheel 47 driven by arm 48 on shaft 49 that is connected through beveled gearing 50 and 51 with drive shaft 52 extending longitudinal of the machine and connected by gearing 53 with motor driven shaft 23.

Since the indexing head has six cells Geneva wheel 47 may have six slots or it may have, as shown, twelve slots. Arm 48 may rotate at twice the speed of the shaft 52 and make two times as many revolutions as head 2 makes one complete indexing movement, or, as shown 2:1 gearing may connect Geneva wheel 47 to head 2.

In the indexing head, cell 3a is the receiving cell for receiving the material which is cut off by knife 11. Cell 3b, which is in the next indexed position, is the cell in which the material is wrapped up in a paper wrapper. Cell So, which is in the next indexed position, is the cell in which the ends of the paper wrapping are formed in over the ends of the material. Cell 3d, which is the next indexed position, of the head is the cell from which the wrapped material is discharged to a discharge chute 54 to be conveyed away from the machine.

Paper for wrapping the material is supplied from a roll of paper 55 with the web therefrom passing between rollers 56 which are driven, as from shaft 46, to feed the proper amount of paper. This paper moves downwardly over a cutting anvil 57 where it is cut by reciprocating cutter knife 58 caried on a lever 59 pivoted in the machine frame and actuated by rod 60 that is connected to lever 61 pivoted in the machine frame and having a roller 62 engaging cam 63 on a shaft 64 drivingly connected to shaft 52 as by beveled gear means 65.

The knife and anvil, as will be seen in FIGURES 7, 10 and 12, provide for a V-shaped cut 66 in the paper with the point end 67 facing downwardly.

During the feed of the paper over anvil 57, the end of the paper is received in a reciprocating pocket 68 which guides the end of the paper downwardly between receiving cell 3a and guide 45. This pocket is carried on the end of an arm 69 connected by a link 70 with a lever 71 pivoted in the machine frame and having a roller 72 engaging a cam 73- on shaft 64.

All of the cam actuated mechanisms referred to here and before, as well as hereinafter, are actuated in one direction by their respective cams and return either by their own weight or by spring force. Also, it will be understood that the mechanisms could be positively actuated in both directions by cams, if so desired.

With regard to the cells themselves, the construction thereof will become more apparent on reference to FIG- URES 13, 14 and 15. It will be seen that the indexing head comprises a plate 74 carried by a hub 75 that is fixed to shaft 46. Plate 74 carries the curved stationary back jaw 76 of each cell which covers about a third of the periphery of each cell of the rear thereof. Each cell also comprises moveable portions 77 and 78 which substantially complete the enclosure of the cell when moved toward each other. Portions 77 and 78 are mounted on their respective arms 79 and 80 which are pivoted on a common shaft 81 that may be supported in the pertaining fixed jaw and in a support ring 82 connected to the fixed jaws and in plate 74.

As will be seen in FIGURES 13 and 14, each of arms 79 carries a roller 82 bearing on the periphery of a control cam 83, whereas, each of arms 80 carries a roller 84 bearing on the periphery of a control cam 85. Cams 83 and 85 are mounted on a sleeve 86 surrounding shaft 46 and adapted to rotate thereon.

The cams 83 and 85 are rotatable as a unit by a rod 87 connected to the cams and leading to a lever 88 having a roller 89 engaging cam 90 on shaft 49. The cams are adapted to be indexed through an angle of 60 between their FIGURE 13 and 14 positions. Each cam has three different diameter portions interconnected by inclines. The cams when indexed to their FIGURE 13 position hold the moveable portions 77 and 78 of cell 3a open and the corresponding portion of cell 312 slightly open, while cells 30 and 3d are completely closed, and the two at the bottom of the index head which are in idle position are open.

When the cams are moved to their FIGURE 14 position, the significant change in the positions of the moveable portions of the cells is that the cell at 3d is opened for ejection of the wrapped material, while the cell at 3a at least partially closes so that the material introduced therein during the loading operation is retained in the cell so that it will index therewith to position 3b.

Each cam thus has a smaller diameter portion 91 on which the rollers 82 and 84 rest when the cells are open, and an intermediate diameter portion 92 on which the rollers rest when the cells are partially open as in station 3b, and a larger diameter portion 93 on which the said rollers rest when the cells are completely closed as in station 30.

Associated with the indexing head 2 is a tucker member for tucking the end of the paper strip into the cell at station 3a. This tucker member is in the form of a bar-like member 94 mounted on a swingable lever 95 pivoted in the machine frame and connected by a link 96 with one end of a lever 97 also pivoted in the machine frame and carrying a roller 98 cooperating with cam 99 on shaft 49.

'In the operation of the machine, considering the machine in the position in which it is illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, the formed fleece 8 is advanced on conveyor belt 5 until it extends a pre-determined distance past knife 11. Knife 11 is, then, moved downwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and cuts off a block of the fleece which is indicated by the dashed cross 100 in FIGURE 4. Downward movement of arms 13 is accomplished by actuation of levers 14 and 20, and by cam 22.

Thereafter, levers 20 and 14 are returned to their original position, while simultaneously knife 11 is pivoted forwardly by actuation of levers 30 and 32, cam 34 thus lifting the cut ofi block 100 within guide 45 and depositing it in front of pusher member 41. This upward movement of the knife and guide member 45 is accompanied by movement thereof toward the cell in station 3a, which is brought about by forward movement of control plate means 16 and by actuation levers 17 and 25 by cam 27. At the end of this last mentioned movement, the parts are in the position in which they are illustrated in FIGURE 5.

It will be noted that the paper web 101 extends downwardly across the open cell 3a, and is clamped by guide 45.

The pusher member 41 is now actuated to push the cut off block of fleece into the open cell. The pusher member 41 is, as will be seen in FIGURE 6, provided with a soft tip portion 102 which yields inwardly when the material is pushed into the open cell. Advancing movement by pusher member 41 brings the parts into the position in which they are illustrated in FIGURE 8 and at which time the paper web 101 has been severed by actuation of knife 58 so that the paper web will be positioned in the cell behind the material.

After the material has been pushed completely into the cell a pair of mandrels 102, illustrated in FIGURE 15 are pushed endwise into the ends of the cell and into engagement with the ends of the block of material therein. These mandrels are actuated by lever means 103 pivoted on a suitable stationary point and actuated by cams 104 which are carried on shaft means 105 drivingly connected with shaft 49 so that the mandrels move in and out in synchronism with indexing movement of the index head 2.

After the mandrels 102 have been brought into engagement with the end of the material in cell 3a, the cams 83 and 85 are indexed from their FIGURE 13 to their FIGURE 14 position by actuation of lever 88 by cam 90, while simultaneously the pusher member 41 is retracted. The mandrels prevent the material from being pulled out by the pusher head and when the jaw portions 77 and 78 close about the material the material will be clamped in the cell and partially formed therein and the paper web will also be held in the cell behind the material.

Following the closing of cell 301, arm 95 is actuated by actuation of lever 97 by cam 99 and this will cause tucker member 94 to move up to its FIGURE 1 and tuck the pointed end of paper web 101 into the material in the cell. To facilitate this tucking in of the paper web mandrels 102 are provided with notches 106 for receiving the end of tucker member 94, as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Following the closing of cell 3a, and at which time pusher member 41 has been retracted, and likewise guide member 45 and knife 11 also retracted from the cell, arm 69 swings upwardly to position pocket 68 for receiving the end of the paper web being fed to guide this new length of paper web into the space in front of the indexing head. Thereafter, the indexing head indexes carrying cell 3a to position 3b, while at about the same time the cams 83 and are moved back to FIGURE 13 position.

A new open cell is now in the receiving station at 3a and the newly filled cell that just indexed away from position 3a is at 3b and the jaw portions 77 and 78 are slightly open due to the rollers 82 and 84 resting on intermediate diameter portions of the control cams. At this time a pair of rotating mandrels 107 move into cell 3b from opposite sides and engage the ends of the material in the cell. Rubber covered roller means 108 mounted on arms 109 pivoted in the machine frame are also moved downwardly into engagement with the material and the mandrels. This lastmentioned movement being brought about by actuation of lever 110 by its actuating cam 111, lever 110 being linked to 109 by link means 112.

While roller means 108 is engaging mandrels 107 and the mandrels 107 are against the end of the material, rack means 113 rotate the mandrels and thereby wrap the material into the paper strip that was pushed into the cell together with the material. Rack means 113 is reciprocated by rod 114 and connected to lever 115 pivoted in the frame of the machine and actuated by cam 116 on shaft 49. Following rotation of the mandrels, the mandrels and the rollers are retracted from the cell and the rack means 113 can, then be returned to its original position.

The above described operation is illustrated in FIG- URE 16, wherein is also illustrated the cam means 114 that position the mandrels into the ends of cell 3b, springs 115 being provided to retract the mandrels. Cams 114 are actuated by rod means 116 which can be under the control of a cam mounted on shaft 49 so that the mandrels move in and out at the proper time.

After another indexing movement of the indexing head, the now wrapped material is brought to the position indicated at 30 and in this position folding heads 117 are moved inwardly against opposite ends of the material in the cell and fold the ends of the paper in. The heads 117 can be conventional star folders or the like to fold the ends of the paper tube inwardly and close the end of the tube of material. Springs 118 can retract heads 117 and cams 119 can move the head inwardly with cams 119 being under the control of rods 120 which can be actuated by a suitable cam on shaft 49.

After another indexing movement of index head 2, the cell moves to position 3d and opens, and at this time the now completely wrapped material is ejected to chute 54 by pin means 121 carried on arm means 122 actuated via linkage 123 from a lever 124 under the control of a cam 125 on shaft 49.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for wrapping plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive material, which comprises: conveyor means operable to receive and convey a fleece of material to a cutting station, cutting means forming a portion of said cutting station operable for cutting off blocks from the fleece conveyed by said conveyor means to said cutting station, a rotatable head including a plurality of cells each having a cylindrical internal configuration, each said cell being movable by rotation of said head into a position adjacent said cutting station for receiving a block of the material and wrapping material to be wrapped therearound, means for conveying a cut off block of material from said cutting station into a respective adjacent cell of said rotatable head, wrapping material supply means operable to supply wrapping material between said cutting station and the respective adjacent cell which has received said out off block, wrapping material cutting means for cutting said wrapping material so that the front end of the cut off wrapping material is V-shaped, oscillatable lever means operable to press the V-shaped portion of the cut off wrapping material against the material in the respective cell, and means for rotating the said block of material and the wrapping material in the cells to form cylindrical wrapped masses.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the cutting means for cutting off a block of the fleece of material is reciprocable in front of a cell when the latter is in a predetermined position of the rotatable head at which said cell receives the material from said conveyor means.

3. A machine for wrapping plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive material, which comprises: conveyor means operable to receive and convey a fleece of material to a cutting station, cutting means forming a portion of said cutting station operable for cutting olf blocks from the fleece conveyed by said conveyor means to said cutting station, a rotatable head including a plurality of cells for receiving the material and wrapping material to be wrapped therearound, said cutting means having associated therewith a trough and being rotatable in the trough to lift the cut 01f block into position to be placed in a cell, means for conveying a cut off block of material when lifting into a cell of said rotatable head, wrapping material supply means operable to supply wrapping material between said cutting station and the respective adjacent cell which has received said cut off block, Wrapping material cutting means for cutting said wrapping material so that the front end of the cut off wrapping material is V-shaped, and oscillatable pocket means adapted to oscillate between said trough on one hand and the rotatable head on the other hand for receiving the V-shaped end portion of the cut off wrapping material and conveying it downwardly.

4. A machine for wrapping plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive material, which comprises: conveyor means operable to receive and convey a fleece of material to a cutting station, cutting means forming a portion of said cutting station operable for cutting off blocks from the fleece conveyed by said conveyor means to said cutting station, a rotatable head including a plurality of cells each having a cylindrical internal configuration, each said cell being movable by rotation of said head into a position adjacent said cutting station for receiving a block of the material and wrapping material to be wrapped therearound, each of said cells being moveable from a filling station to a discharge station and back to said filling station, wrapping material supply means operable to supply wrapping material between said cutting station and the respective cell at said filling station, additional cutting means arranged along the path of said wrapping material for cutting off therefrom a length required for wrapping the explosive material in a cell, said additional cutting means being so shaped as to cut the front end of the wrapping material to form a V, folding lever means arranged adjacent the respective cell at said filling station for pressing the cut off wrapping material against the explosive material in the cell at said filling station, and rotatable cylindrical mandrel means arranged adjacent said filling station and moveable into the protruding ends of the wrapping material around the explosive material in the cell at said filling station, said mandrel means being provided with recess means for receiving the ends of said folding lever means and means for rotating said mandrel means to form a wrapped cylindrical mass in each cell.

5. A machine for wrapping plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive material, which comprises: conveyor means operable to receive and convey a fleece of material to a cutting station, cutting means forming a portion of said cutting station operable to cut of? blocks from the material conveyed by said conveyor means to said cutting station, a guiding trough associated with said cutting means, said cutting means being rotatable to lift a cut off block of material upwardly within said trough into loading position, a rotatable head moveable from a loading station through a plurality of finishing stations and comprising a plurality of cells provided withjaws adapted to be opened and closed, wrapping material supply means for supplying wrapping material between said trough and the jaws of the respective cell in said loading station, additional cutting means for cutting off from said wrapping material a section required for wrapping the material in a cell, said trough and said jaws being operable to clamp therebetween the front portion of the section of wrapping material to be cut off by said additional cutting means, and means for pushing a lifted cut off block of material into the cell in loading position after the wrapping material has been clamped against the cell by said trough.

6. A machine for wrapping plastic masses, especially gelatinous explosive material, which comprises: conveyor means operable to receive and convey a fleece of material to a cutting station, cutting means forming a portion of said cutting station operable for cutting otf blocks from the fleece conveyed by said conveyor means to said cutting station, a rotatable head including a plurality of cells each having a cylindrical internal configuration, each said cell being movable by rotation of said head into a position adjacent said cutting station for receiving a block of the material to be wrapped therearound, said cutting means being rotatable to lift the cut off block into loading position, a transfer member having its front end provided with an elastic cushion and being operable to transfer the cut off block in loading position into a cell of said rotatable head, wrapping material supply means operable tosupply wrapping material between said cutting station and the respective adjacent cell which is to receive said out olf block, wrapping material cutting means for cutting said wrapping material so that the front end of the cut off wrapping material is V-shaped, oscillatable lever means operable to press the V-shaped portion of the cut off wrapping material against the material in the respective cell, and means for rotating the said block of material and the wrapping material in the cells to form cylindrical wrapped masses.

7. A machine for wrapping plastic material in a strip of wrapping material comprising; a conveyor to advance a strip of the plastic material, cut off means at the end of theconveyor to cut off blocks from the strip, an indexing head spaced from the end of the conveyor comprising a plurality of cylindrical cells each formed of a plurality of wall members relatively movable to open said cell to receive a block and to close said cell to confine said block, means for indexing said head to present the open cells in succession to a receiving station for receiving one of said out off blocks, means for feeding wrapping material downwardly between the cut off means and said head, means for lifting cut off block into alignment with the cell in the receiving station, means for clamping the wrapping material against the said cell in the receiving station, means to push the cut off block into the cell together with the wrapping material, means moving said wall members to closed position to close said cell and means operable following an indexing movement of the head to engage opposite ends of said block and to rotate said block of material in the cell to wrap the wrapping material around the plastic material and thereby to form a wrapped cylindrical mass.

8. A machine according to claim 7, which includes means for tucking :the end of the wrapping material into the block of material in the cell in the receiving station prior to said rotation of the said block of material.

9. A machine according to claim 7, in which said wall members comprise pivotally mounted jaws movable to open the cells for receiving a block of material and close the cells to form the material therein, and said means moving said wall members comprise cams adjacent said head operatively connected to said jaws and controlling said jaws to open and close the cells as the head indexes, and control means operatively connected to said cams for moving said cams to cause the closing of the cell in the receiving station in the absence of movement of said head.

10. In a machine for cutting off and wrapping plastic material; a conveyor for conveying a strip of the material, a vertically reciprocable cut off knife at the end of the conveyor to cut off blocks from the strips, vertically reciprocable support means for the knife pivotally connected to the upper edge of the knife, a curved trough in front of the knife, means for pivoting the knife about its pivotal connection with said support means through an angle of substantially 90 to lift a block cut off by the knife to the top of the trough, and means for pushing the out 01f block horizontally from the knife into a receiving cell.

11. A machine according to claim 10, which includes a bar parallel to the knife and in front of the knife and connected to the knife so as to move therewith and operable to hold the cut 01f block on the knife as the knife rotates.

12. In a machine for wrapping plastic material in strips of wrapping material; means to supply a strip of plastic material, means to cut off blocks from the strip, an indexing head with a plurality of cells operable to present the cells in succession to a receiving station, each cell comprising a stationary arcuate jaw and two movable arcuate jaws, said jaws when closed defining a cylindrical chamber, means to open the movable jaws in the receiving station, means to push a cut off block into the open cell which is in the receiving station together with a region of a strip of wrapping material near one end of the wrapping material, means to close the movable jaws of the said open cell to shape the said block to a cylindrical configuration, means to index the head to convey the now filled cell to a wrapping station, means to open the movable jaws of the filled cell slightly, and means for rotating the plastic material in the cell to cause the wrapping material to be wound around the plastic material and to form cylindrical wrapped masses.

13. A machine according to claim 12, which includes means for indexing the head to carry each cell from said wrapping station to an end closure station, and means in said end closure station to form the ends of said wrapping material inwardly over the ends of said plastic material.

14. A machine according to claim 13, which includes means for indexing the head to carry each cell from said end closure station to a discharge station, andmeans for opening said movable jaws when the cell is in said discharge station and for ejecting the wrapped material from the cell.

15. A machine according to claim 14, in which cams are provided for controlling said movable jaws in response to indexing movement of said head and said cams are movable in the absence of movement of the head to provide for closing of the movable jaws in said receiving station and the opening of the movable jaws in said discharge station following the indexing movement of the head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,163,709 12/1915 Thorschmidt 53217 1,514,848 11/1924 Gantz 83109 XR 1,875,979 9/1932 Beutel 53-234 XR 1,885,910 11/1932 Gwinn et a1 53234 XR 2,955,331 4/1934 Howard et al. S3-122 XR FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD STICKNEY, Examiner.

A. E. FOURNIER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR WRAPPING PLASTIC MASSES, ESPECIALLY GELATINOUS EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES: CONVEYOR MEANS OPERABLE TO RECEIVE AND CONVEY A FLEECE OF TO A CUTTING STATION, CUTTING MEANS FORMING A PORTION OF SAID CUTTING STATION OPERABLE FOR CUTTING OFF BLOCKS FROM THE FLEECE CONVEYED BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS TO SAID CUTTING STATION, A ROTATABLE HEAD INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CELLS EACH HAVING A CYLINDRICAL INTERNAL CONFIGURATION, EACH SAID CELL BEING MOVABLE BY ROTATION OF SAID HEAD INTO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID CUTTING STATION FOR RECEIVING A BLOCK OF THE MATERIAL AND WRAPPING MATERIAL TO BE WRAPPED THEREAROUND, MEANS FOR CONVEYING A CUT OFF BLOCK OF MATERIAL FROM SAID CUTTING STATION INTO A RESPECTIVE ADJACENT CELL OF SAID ROTATABLE HEAD, WRAPPING MATERIAL SUPPLY MEANS OPERABLE TO SUPPLY WRAPPING MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID CUTTING STATION AND THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT CELL WHICH HAS RECEIVED SAID CUT OFF BLOCK, WRAPPING MATERIAL CUTTING MEANS FOR CUTTING SAID WRAPPING MATERIAL SO THAT THE FRONT END OF THE CUT OFF WRAPPING MATERIAL IS V-SHAPED, OSCILLATABLE LEVER MEANS OPERABLE TO PRESS THE V-SHAPED PORTION OF THE CUT OFF WRAPPING MATERIAL AGAINST THE MATERIAL IN THE RESPECTIVE CELL, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE SAID BLOCK OF MATERIAL AND THE WRAPPING MATERIAL IN THE CELLS TO FORM CYLINDRICAL WRAPPED MASSES. 